The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) governing board has voted to
increase the number of sports at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Games to 22 with
the addition of paratriathlon and canoeing.

In the games: Paratriathlon will make its Paralympics debut in Rio in 2016Photo: ITU/DELLY CARR

By Steve Wilson

10:16AM GMT 11 Dec 2010

The two disciplines were chosen from a list of seven sports, with badminton, basketball for athletes with an intellectual disability, golf, powerchair football and taekwondo unsuccessful at the ballot which took place in Guangzhou, China ahead of the Asian Para Games.

Marisol Casado, ITU President and IOC Member, said: “ITU is deeply honoured to join the Paralympic Family and have our inspirational paratriathletes compete alongside the remarkable Paralympians from around the world.

"On behalf of the ITU, I would like to thank IPC President Sir Phil Craven and the Governing Board members.

“I am confident Paratriathlon will contribute to the Paralympic Movement and inspire people and youth worldwide. It has been a long road to reach this milestone but we know the real work begins now as we dedicate our efforts to delivering spectacular Paratriathlon competitions in Rio 2016.”

ITU has supported the development of Paratriathlon for more than 15 years and has held Paratriathlon World Championships every year since 1995.

World and European Champion, McClelland, said: “Having the opportunity to compete at the Paralympic Games has been a dream of mine for many years. The Paralympics is the ultimate accomplishment for disability sport and I am absolutely motivated and excited by the potential to race along the Copacabana in the Paralympic Games in Rio in 2016.”

British Triathlon President and ITU Vice President and Executive Board Representative of the ITU Paratriathlon Committee, Dr Sarah Springman OBE, also welcomed the news.

“Today’s Paralympic Games invitation from the IPC is the culmination of years of dedication and commitment to the development of Paratriathlon,” said Springman.

“Our long-held ambition has come true. We would like to thank the members of the IPC and everyone who has contributed to the bid, including our paratriathletes and triathletes, our National Federations, passionate supporters and of course our hardworking Paratriathlon Committee led by Grant Darby and our invaluable staff liaison member, Thanos Nikopoulos.

“We are committed to working together with the IPC to continue to promote Paratriathlon development from entry to elite level.

"As a pinnacle of the movement, the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games will become a catalyst to encourage people with disabilities to take up Paratriathlon, and we are absolutely delighted that our charismatic paratriathletes of today, and many more from the future, will be a part of it.”